KUALA LUMPUR: The families of 54 Malaysians missing in Nepal are demanding urgent legal clarity after Foreign Ministry officials instructed them to apply for death certificates.
The group, represented by Malaysia Solidarity Families in Hope (MASFIH), said the abrupt directive had caused severe emotional distress and profound trauma to loved ones who have been waiting for answers for 76 days.
The victims remain unaccounted for following devastating flash floods in Rasuwagadhi, Nepal, on Aug 26.
MASFIH spokesman Dr Manivannan Rethinam questioned whether the required document was a Certificate of Presumed Death or a standard Death Certificate under Nepal’s revised disaster ordinance.
“This distinction is not merely about terminology. It carries profound legal and financial ramifications on estate distribution, insurance payouts, bank loans and the fundamental rights of next of kin,” he said in a statement today.
Last week, Manivannan said families were particularly concerned about being asked to apply for death certificates under a new Nepalese ordinance without clear explanations of its legal implications in Malaysia.
He had also refuted claims made in Parliament that families were largely satisfied with official briefings, stressing that critical legal concerns remained unanswered.
MASFIH has formally submitted seven major questions to the authorities, demanding written clarification on whether the document is recognised by the National Registration Department, the official stance of the Attorney-General’s Chambers (A-GC) and the procedure should an individual later be found alive.
The group also urged the government to handle the documentation on a government-to-government basis rather than forcing distressed families to apply individually through the Malaysian embassy in Kathmandu.
Manivannan also addressed friction during engagements where ministry officials allegedly cited mental fatigue and claimed families were stressing staff out.
“We acknowledge the sacrifices of civil servants who work overtime and sacrifice their personal time.
“But who is paying equal attention to the mental health, trauma and suffering of families who have been waiting for their loved ones for over two months?
“Empathy must work both ways. The sacrifices of officials should never be weighed against the suffering of the families,” he added.
MASFIH called for an immediate face-to-face meeting involving the foreign minister, senior A-GC representatives and all affected families to address outstanding issues, including ongoing DNA matching efforts.
The group also demanded an independent third-party audit of the crisis communication process and reminded all parties to refrain from using definitive terms like “perished” or “dead” until official confirmation is established.